Former Child Star Faces Legal Trouble After Court Issue

A former kid-film favorite who left fame far behind has found himself in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons…

A certain child star rose to fame in the 1990s as Alfalfa, the cowlick-sporting misfit in "The Little Rascals." But decades later, his life has taken a startling and deeply polarizing turn.

Following a public stumble and personal reckoning in 2020, he walked away from Hollywood entirely, rejecting the industry that shaped him and embracing a rigid, old-fashioned lifestyle that feels frozen in another century. But it's his unapologetic nature that has led to several controversies online.

His Hollywood Beginning

Born Brandon Rowan, the young actor quickly became known by his nickname, one he would later fully embrace. At some point in his adult life, he legally changed his name to Bug Hall-Barnett. The surname Barnett came from his stepfather, Mark Barnett, the man who raised him.

By the early 1990s, Bug Hall appeared to be on the fast track to global stardom. His big break came with Steven Spielberg's "The Little Rascals," where he starred as Alfalfa, the unforgettable troublemaker with a crooked smile and stiff cowlick. From there, his star kept rising.

His performance in "A Tale Dark and Grimm" would later earn him a Children's Emmy nomination. Throughout the years, Hall picked up supporting roles in a range of television shows and movies and lent his voice to several animated projects.

As an adult, he landed recurring parts in TV series and took on creative roles behind the scenes. Notably, he co-wrote the film "This Is the Year," which had Selena Gomez on board as executive producer.

Although he may still pursue occasional projects, Hall has left the Hollywood machine behind for a practical and personal reason.

Leaving Fame Behind

Life took a sharp turn for Hall in 2020, when he was arrested in Weatherford, Texas, for inhaling air duster cans in a hotel room. It was a disturbing moment, but not unfamiliar for those who grew up watching child stars struggle in adulthood.

In fact, this was a relapse. Hall had been sober for 15 years, with only a few slip-ups, brought on by the high-speed pressure of the Hollywood lifestyle.

Yet, this time, something changed...

Although he was booked for misdemeanor possession, no charges were filed, and court records show nothing further. But the arrest made headlines. Hall was no longer just a former actor; he was a father of two young daughters, and he knew it was time to make a different choice.

Years later, he looked back on the arrest with unexpected gratitude. He had loved working in the industry but said he came to believe that God did not want him there.

One of the reasons he walked away was the difficulty of expressing his beliefs on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. Hall wanted to live more truthfully and with purpose.

"I didn't want to go work some job that was basically meaningless, making widgets to entertain people or distract people," he told the Daily Mail.

And with that decision, his life became something most would never expect.

A Surprising Arrest Has Put the Former Child Star Back in the Spotlight

For someone whose face was once so familiar on screens, his retreat from that world already felt unexpected. But now, his name is back in headlines for a very different reason… And this time, it is not because of a comeback role, a reunion, or a nostalgic Hollywood moment.

According to a TMZ report published on April 13, 2026, Hall was arrested in Ohio. The outlet reported that he was charged with failure to appear for a court date tied to December 31, 2024.

That court issue, in turn, reportedly stemmed from an earlier traffic citation: Bug Hall had previously been cited on October 29, 2024, for not having liability insurance.

So while the arrest headline sounds dramatic on its own, the underlying reason was not tied to some explosive Hollywood scandal. Instead, the twist was far more mundane, and somehow even more unexpected for a former child star whose life had already taken such a sharp turn away from fame.

Living Off the Grid

While many who share traditional or conservative values still live within the modern world, Hall has taken things much further. He now lives what some would call the life of a "radical Catholic extremist."

After marrying Jill Marie DeGroff in 2017, the couple welcomed their two eldest daughters in Los Angeles. But in 2020, everything shifted. They left California behind, relocating first to Texas, then Michigan, then Ohio, before finally finding a place that felt like home.

They settled on an 80-acre plot near Mountain Home, Arkansas, where Hall committed to living almost completely off the grid. He took what he described as a "vow of poverty," donating most of the money he had earned during his acting career. He also gave away the majority of his personal belongings.

The family now lives in a campervan outfitted with a water well and a generator. But even that, Hall says, is temporary. He is planning to build a house for his wife and children in the coming months.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Hall revealed that their only remaining bills are gas for the generator and their car, plus roughly $100 for both his and his wife's cell phones.

His ultimate goal is to live without any fixed income at all. If a financial need arises, he plans to take on short-term work to cover the expense and then return to a quiet, self-sufficient life.

He also dreams of going fully off-grid, with a hydroelectric dam and a complete plumbing and electrical system that he would build himself. Additionally, Hall and his wife homeschool their children and have no plans to send them to college, which he has called "nonsense."

He told the Daily Mail that his eight-year-old daughter wants to build a convent on their land, while another daughter has already asked him to construct a house for her and her future husband.

Though many might see this lifestyle as extreme, Hall has also been praised for his commitment to living by his beliefs, no matter how unusual they may seem.

Building a New Life with Old Values

Hall's dramatic lifestyle shift has drawn admiration from those who share his traditional Catholic views. Many have praised his decision to leave Hollywood behind and live off the land, and that support has given him the confidence to speak more openly about his beliefs.

In an April 2025 video titled "Into the Unknown," he explained why he walked away from the industry, even though he once loved being part of it. In the end, he said, he came to see the entire business as empty. "It really wasn't all that great of a sacrifice compared to what our Lord had planned to give me in return. The fruits of that decision to live this radical lifestyle," he said.

Hall's decision inspired his family as well. His brother, Gemini Barnett, who had a role in "The Wedding Singer," followed him to Arkansas, along with their mother, Twila, and stepfather. Each of them has purchased land nearby.

Gemini has already built a home for his wife and children. Hall's home is next, and he also has plans to build a church for the growing community.

Though he appears content, Hall's lifestyle and his vocal online presence have not gone unnoticed, and not everyone has applauded him.

Stirring Outrage Online

Hall may have walked away from Hollywood and rejected most aspects of modern life, but he had previously kept a strong presence on X and occasionally posts videos to YouTube. Still, many of his opinions have caused a stir, drawing intense backlash from other netizens.

In 2024, he and Jill welcomed their first son, naming him Mark Athanasius Chad Anthony Hall-Barnett of the Holy Cross. Hall celebrated the birth by posting that he finally had an "heir."

When someone questioned the comment and reminded him of his daughters, he responded bluntly:

"I said heir, not dishwasher."

The comment caused immediate outrage. A few years earlier, Hall had already sparked serious controversy when he was banned from X for a time due to a post about punishing his children. He had claimed that even children as young as ten could face harsh discipline if they disobeyed.

"Before the age of reason [sic] it's an immediate corporal/retributive justice. It then begins to shift to a privation/reparative model," he wrote in 2022.

The backlash was again swift, forcing Hall to later clarify what he meant. He admitted his wording had been poorly chosen and explained that "severe punishment" referred to discipline that was quick and direct. He also openly supports spanking, but says the level of force would depend on the child's age.

Despite the outrage his posts had caused, Hall had announced plans to leave social media entirely. After appearing as master of ceremonies at a charity gala in Florida, he said he would step away from the spotlight again.

From then on, he plans to post only occasional life updates, leaving behind the online world just as he once left behind the industry that made him famous.